Local lawyer Christina Agola has been suspended from legal practice by the State Appellate Division Fourth Judicial Department.

An order of the Rochester-based appeals court, dated Tuesday, does not say why Agola was suspended or how long her suspension is to last. She would have to reapply to the appellate panel for permission to resume her practice after the term of suspension.

Agola, 47, specializes in civil rights casessuch as employment discrimination, sexual harassment and police abuse, and has brought a number of high-profile lawsuits over the years. She has offices in Brighton and Buffalo.

Agola also has had run-ins with judges, particularly in federal court. She was reprimanded last year by a U.S. Court of Appeals grievance panel, which cited repeated delays and inadequate case filings. Agola, who told the panel her practice had grown too fast and she'd be unable to manage her caseload properly, was directed to undergo extra training and supervision.

"We've never been in trouble before. We never intend to get in trouble again," she told a Democrat and Chronicle reporter at the time.

Agola did not immediately return a call for comment to her Brighton office Friday morning.